The bill introduced in New Mexico to license sleep technologists who practice certain polysomnography services related to respiratory care died in the Senate.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) opposed this legislation as it sought to limit qualified sleep technologists from working within their scope of practice. The AASM sent a call-to-action asking members in New Mexico to contact their representatives and urge them to vote against this bill, and thanks all members who met with Senators to voice opposition to this bill. The AASM also sent letters to members of the New Mexico legislature voicing our opposition to this bill.
The Tennessee legislature is considering a bill to license sleep technologists. The bill provides for full licensure of sleep technologists, and creates a polysomnography professional standards committee, under the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, made up of mostly sleep professionals.
It also allows for both A-STEP and CAAHEP educational programs and requires respiratory therapists and electroneurodiagnostic technologists complete the CAAHEP add-on for sleep in order to practice polysomnography.
The AASM has voiced its support of this bill to members of the legislature. Progress on this bill will be monitored by the AASM and updates provided via the Web site.
